Pitt positive about Ilmor engine update

Ilmor have been pushing extra hard to get their bike up to speed after a difficult pre-season build-up, not helped by Jeremy McWilliams' crash at Jerez last year, but finally feel they are making some progress.

Although their two riders ended the first day at Jerez at the bottom of the timesheets, Pitt is happy with the early feedback from the revised engine - although wants more dry running to get a proper feel for it.

"It was an interesting day for me today," he said. "I was trying out a new engine set-up so I would have loved to have a dry track to test it properly. However, even in the poor conditions I can tell that the changes have made the engine smoother and changed the way the bike turns.

"It feels different, the throttle feels better and I'm looking forward to really pushing it over the next couple of days."

Team manager Mike Janes added: "The 2007 engine seems to be a positive step in the right direction although we do have one or two issues to iron out. Both riders have given us some great feedback today and we have plenty of work to do over the remainder of the test. We have a long way to go still."

McWilliams' outing at Jerez was the first time back at the track since he injured himself in his big testing crash.

"It feels good to be back - in spite of the weather," he said. "I still have a little difficulty getting on and off the bike but riding feels very natural."